Latest news with #GreenMoroccoPlan
Ya Biladi
14-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's citrus industry grapples with climate challenges
DR With over 1.5 million tons produced annually—including 500,000 tons for export—the citrus industry is a strategic pillar of Moroccan agriculture. It supports more than 13,000 rural families, generates 32 million workdays, and relies on a network of 50 packing stations and 4 juice factories. Between 2010 and 2016, the area under citrus cultivation expanded from 98,000 to 128,000 hectares, spurred by the Green Morocco Plan and public-private partnerships on Sodea lands. Production followed suit, increasing by 59% over six years to reach 2.6 million tons in 2016. An Industry Contracting After a Decade of Growth But this momentum came to a halt due to overproduction, which outpaced processing and marketing capacities. Climate change further aggravated the situation. From 2016 to 2024, the cultivated area shrank by 29%, with more than 37,000 hectares uprooted, reducing the national orchard to 91,342 hectares. Yields also declined significantly, bringing total production down to 1.5 million tons. A Younger, More Technical, and More Selective Orchard Despite these setbacks, the sector is undergoing a strategic reorganization, explains Maroc Citrus, which brings together industry stakeholders. Today, 50% of orchards are less than 15 years old, with a growing emphasis on high-value varieties. Chief among them is the NadorCott, a locally developed and EU-protected mandarin, seen as a commercial and technical success. Managed by the Moroccan Association of NadorCott Producers (APNM), it is exported to over 40 countries and valued for its yield, size, and harvesting window. Export Market: Forced Upgrading and New Opportunities The rise of Turkish and Egyptian competitors—particularly in the Russian market—has eroded Morocco's market share. Yet this loss has also acted as a wake-up call, prompting the industry to move upmarket, enhance traceability, and adopt certifications such as GlobalGAP, SMETA, GRASP, and LEAF. Still, certain segments like table oranges continue to struggle. The loss of competitiveness to Egypt has shortened the export season by two months, reducing the profitability of packing stations, increasing the precarity of seasonal jobs, and depriving juice processors of raw material. However, a strategic opening could emerge: Brazil—the world's top producer—has seen a drop in output due to the citrus greening virus, leading Egyptian exporters to redirect their fruit to processing, potentially freeing up space in the export market that Morocco could seize. Challenge 1 – Water Resources: The Need for a Dedicated Plan Water is by far the most pressing challenge for the sector. Repeated droughts threaten the long-term viability of citrus farming, particularly in key production zones. While desalinated water will be prioritized for domestic consumption, agriculture will increasingly depend on dam and recycled water—resources that may not be sufficient. A dedicated water strategy is urgently needed. It should include scaling up desalination projects, establishing large-scale hydraulic interconnections (such as «water highways»), and promoting shared governance. Immediate consultation between the state and sector professionals is essential to prevent long-term decline. Challenge 2 – Market Structuring: Breaking Systemic Barriers In its March 2024 opinion, the Competition Council highlighted deep structural issues: land fragmentation, weak producer organization, dependence on intermediaries, and speculative practices in wholesale markets. These flaws hinder competitiveness, lengthen distribution chains, and raise costs for consumers. To improve the sector's performance, Maroc Citrus recommends: Challenge 3 – Labor Shortage: A Growing Structural Risk
Ya Biladi
08-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's Damask rose production set to surge : A boost for sustainable development
The projected production of the Damask rose (Rosa damascena) is estimated at over 4,800 tons for the 2024-2025 agricultural season, compared to 3,500 tons in 2023-2024, according to the Regional Office for Agricultural Development (ORMVA) of Ouarzazate. The area cultivated with this flower in the province of Tinghir has reached 1,020 hectares, with exports of about 60 tons, specified Abdellah Abdellaoui, head of the agricultural production service at the ORMVA of Ouarzazate, during a scientific symposium held on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 60th edition of the International Rose Festival in Morocco (from May 5 to 8) in Kelâat M'Gouna. The rose industry has benefited, within the framework of the Green Morocco Plan, from two distinctive signs of origin and quality, including the protected designation of origin «Rose of Kelâa M'gouna-Dadès» and «Rose Water of Kelâat M'Gouna-Dadès», concentrated mainly in the communes of Ait Sedrate Sahl Gharbia (31%), Khémis Dadès (29%), Ait Sedrate Sahl Charkia (19%), Kelâat M'Gouna (11%), and Ait Ouassif (10%), detailed Abdellah Abdellaoui. While calling for the promotion of scientific research to advance this sector, the official highlighted certain constraints that still hinder the development of this industry, particularly concerning the adoption of underdeveloped techniques in processing this flower and illegal competition. Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, in partnership with the province of Tinghir and national and international partners, the International Rose Festival is themed this year as «Rose Industry: A Lever for Sustainable Development within the Framework of the Green Generation Strategy».
Morocco World
22-04-2025
- Climate
- Morocco World
Morocco's Farming Season ‘Promising' as Rain Boosts Crops and Livestock
Meknes – Morocco's farming season is 'promising by all standards' after recent rainfall and grain harvest are expected to jump by 41%, to reach 44 million quintals, says Morocco's Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari. Speaking at the high-level talk on farming and water during the 17th International Agricultural Fair in Meknes (SIAM), El Bouari explained that March and early April brought much-needed rain. 'It had a very positive impact on the agricultural situation in various regions of the Kingdom despite a difficult start to the season,' he said. That rain has helped crops grow better and given a real boost to farmers. 'The vegetative cover of autumn cereals has greatly improved, especially in the best-suited areas,' the minister added. El Bouari also pointed out that the rain has helped grass grow back. This will help with raising the herd count, a key goal after years of drought. 'This will support the royal message urging citizens to refrain from the Eid ritual slaughter this year, allowing national herds to reproduce and gradually return to pre-2020 levels,' he said. The ministry is also putting together a full support plan to help herders and improve livestock production. 'We are preparing an integrated programme to support breeders and increase national herd productivity, a necessity to achieve food security in this field,' explained Bouari. The rain hasn't just helped the land and livestock, it's also improved the country's water situation. 'The blessed rains of this season have contributed to a tangible improvement in the water situation, which bodes well for a bold irrigation programme this summer,' he said. The government will roll out a new irrigation plan soon, working closely with the Ministry of Water. At the same talk, Bouari reminded everyone that Morocco has faced its longest drought in recent years. 'Our country has experienced, over the last seven years, the longest drought period marked by a severe rainfall deficit, which negatively affected the agricultural sector and rural economy,' he said. But thanks to early planning and investment under the Green Morocco Plan, the country kept farms running and markets stocked. 'We will continue to implement the Green Generation strategy, prioritizing human development and adapting agriculture to national and international changes,' El Bouri said. A big part of the plan is using water more wisely. The goal is to get more farms using water-saving drip systems, boosting coverage from 54% now to over 70% by 2030. 'We are confident that ensuring irrigation water supplies, in line with the royal directives, will enhance our country's resilience to climate change and preserve our competitiveness in global markets,' he said. El Bouari added that 'His Majesty has instructed us to ensure drinking water for all citizens and cover at least 80% of irrigation needs across the country, whatever the circumstances.' Wrapping up, El Bouari said the goal is clear: 'To steer discussions toward concrete and realistic proposals to align water and agriculture policies, bolster irrigation efforts, and reduce the agricultural sector's vulnerability to climate change.' Tags: farmingMoroccoSIAM 2025Water irrigation program
